Notochord

The notochord represents the earliest foetal axial skeleton, and extending from the Rathke's pouch to the coccyx. It is a primitive cell line in which the skull base and the vertebral column develop around. The notochord which is cylindrical in shape is replaced by sclerotomes that produce cartilage and subsequently bone. Remnants of the notochord usually remain in /or close to the midline.They entrapped within bone. Some lesions like chordomas can develop from.

The nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs represent residual notochord.

Vestigial non neoplastic notochordal remnants are seen in up to 2% of cadavers, usually in the midline. They are located: